Wedding Woos and Woes

First of all, I have a little bit of housekeeping to do! (Or a lot because I’m a slacker with a capital LAZY.)

A couple of things you should be aware of:

• Jamie @ Oh! How Lovely! is nominated for all kinds of awards over on 20 Something Bloggers. (Yeah, I caved because I wanted to vote for her and the only way I could do that was to sign up. So I did! ) So, if you’re 20 something, go join 20SB and then vote for Jamie.  She really is lovely. (And she just got a new scarf that I’m drooling over. FYI)
• Krysten @ After ‘I Do’ is hosting a giveaway for a book from one of my all time favorite bloggers, Pamie.com. (I’ve been following this chick since I was in high school and all angst-y like. Way back when Geocities and Angelfire were all the rage and. Yeah, you know you had a website too, don’t lie.) So, if you like chick lit, go sign up for that.

Plus, I won another award!  Giant thanks and curtsies going out to Shelli @ Minnesota meets California for this adorable little thing!

As with most of these awards, there are rules. They state that I am supposed to include five things that I love to do and then pass it on to five bloggers I think should be recognized.  I’m cheating just a bit, only because I’m starting to feel really horrible about singling people out. There are so many thought provoking, hilarious blogs that I read at this point that it’s near impossible for me to leave someone out without feeling a tiny bit truckloads of guilty. I’m all about travel but guilt trips aren’t very fun.  So, if you’re in my blogroll or I’ve commented on your page (since my blogroll needs some major updating already) and you’re reading this, go ahead and steal this bad girl for yourself because you earned it! (Yes, I’m serious…)

Five Things I Love To Do That You Haven’t Already Read One Kal-trillion Times:

1.  I love to watch Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and Desperate Housewives. There are others but these are non-negotiable. I even have rules… NO TALKING during these shows.  I can not possibly carry on an intelligent conversation with you while these televised events are taking place.  I’m really sorry. I know it’s a tad draconian but I will send your call to voicemail (and listen to it on commercial break in case of an emergency) and I will completely ignore you if you ask me a question if a musical collage starts to play. So just… don’t. I love you but hush yer mouf.

2. I love to sit at the beach, even in the winter.  I have made so many great decisions meditating while watching and listening to the waves crash ashore.  There’s something about the rhythmic pace of water that calms my every cell.  I’m lucky enough to live near Lake Michigan an I have a special spot that I like to go and think.  I would tell you where it is but if I found you sitting in my place, I’d cut a bitch. This place is my solitude, my sanctuary.  I’ve prayed here, cried here, thrown rocks to get out some pent up rage and even splashed around in the water all by myself, filled with glee. Water is absolutely my element and I love being around it. It’s like an old friend I can always count on.

3. I love to brush my teeth. I get to be spitty and gross. I can gargle, which is a whole big pile of fun.  I have been holding up my end of the bargain with 2010 to floss more and this just makes me all kinds of smiley. I have a certain toothpaste that I always buy and if I can’t find it, I will absolutely go to a different store to get it.  I also have an electric toothbrush that’s pink which makes it even *more* fun to brush my teeth. I am such a child.  Better childish than grumpy and resentful. I used to have a tongue scraper that was lost somewhere in one of the eight thousand moves I’ve made.  It’s on my list of things to buy. Rest assured.  I don’t know when I became a Toothbrushing Nazi but it’s gotten to a point where I can almost call it a hobby.

4. I love grocery shopping.  Even though you might think otherwise if you read this post that I wrote back in the day. I enjoy smelling fruit and choosing the perfect vegetables. I love loitering in the condiment aisles finding new sauces and dips, I’m a condiment slut, what can I say?  I am enamored with the deli; finding new cheeses, squeezing fresh bread, ooing and ahing over the salads and fresh olives and marinated tomatoes.  I could spend hours meandering up and down every aisle.  I also play a game when I’m there.  I’m a generally happy person so I smile at everyone.  It amazes me at how a smile can brighten someone’s day. I once had a lady stop me and tell me how beautiful my smile was and that it made her whole day. Talk about an ego boost! Try it!  You’ll see.

5. I love hanging out with my sister.  We have come such a long way in our relationship over the past few years.  We talk to each other like adult human beings.  I will always be her baby sister, but now that I am almost 28, she no longer treats me like a child.  She is honestly one of the funniest people I know. Quick witted and so animated, I’m sure I get some most of my humor from her.  She’s a fantastic mother of two gorgeous (and also hilarious) children and you will often notice that I call her June Cleaver, because she is. Need instructions for an egg carton caterpillar? She’s your girl! I get the best advice from her, she is my number one fan and one of my very best friends. And coincidentally, an awesome writer.  Someday you’ll be browsing through Barnes & Noble and see one of her adorable children’s books. (When she publishes them, I will scream it from the rooftops, don’t worry.)

Speaking of biffles, I’m in a wedding in Oregon at the end of this month.  Some of my stress from the past few months has been figuring out how I’m going to get there, how to afford the dress and please please God don’t let her cake suck.  Cake suck?  Yeah!  I’m making her cake so I feel extremely in the spotlight right now. In the sweaty palmed, holy shit, I’m singing in front of 100 people kind of way.  Thank my stars I went to Culinary school and learned how to do this otherwise I would feel like I’m taking on the Sistine Chapel without talent.  It’s going to be a beautiful cake though. Three tiers of yellow cake with chocolate butter cream filling and white butter cream frosting adorned with blue Delphiniums and sugared olive branches. (Because it’s winter and olive branches are for love… I’m such a sap!)  I have the vision of what it will look like in my head but I have to tell you… I am terrified. Absolute shaking in my brand new off-brand boots.

So far I have my plane tickets (where I go on a tour of the United States and hang out in Vegas for 45 minutes), the gorgeous dress, cake pans, pastry bags, pastry tips, and the rehearsal dinner dress.  Howevs, I’m currently the barefoot bridesmaid.  I have these feet that just can’t pick a size so ordering online is out.  I have shopped everywhere around this town looking for shoes and have only come up with strappy shoes.  This isn’t such a bad thing but I really wanted closed toed shoes. It’s January for crying out loud and I’m wearing a dress made out of tissue paper.  I was thinking maybe my feet could be warm? I’m striking out all over the town though so I must just have to suck it up, buy the open toed shoes and go pantyhose-less. I’ll be the blue one in the back. Ironically enough, the dress is also blue so maybe I’ll just match the dress. Nothing wrong with some light coordination in my life. Wanna see pictures? I know you do you picture whores! (I’m so totally president of that group.)

The Vintage Blue *Gorgeous* Dress

Sugared Olive Branches

Ribbed Buttercream

I can’t show you the cake (obviously) because I haven’t made it yet but it will have some of the same characteristics as these. (These cakes are from Sedona Wedding Cakes. Aren’t they gorgeous? Wait ’til you see the rest of the site. I was drooling.)

When I find shoes… I’ll give you a look-see.

Things I Still Need:

• Haircut and color (badly)
• DIY Hair Trials (since I’m doing my own hair, you’ll get to vote!)
• DIY Makeup Trials (which I have to send to Missy too since I am doing her makeup for everything but the wedding)
• FUCKING shoes
• A chill pill

I’ve already started packing. Picking out outfits and jewelry for the other festivities. Don’t worry… I’ll show you pictures of that too.  What a bunch of girls.  I can’t talk about the Bachelorette Party in case Missy is watching but let me just say… Namaste and stuff. I can not WAIT!

It’s going to be like a whirlwind mini-vacation for me.  I get to go back to the west coast, which I love. Plus I get to hang out with one of my oldest friends. We met in our Photography class in high school and I have to say, I am so thankful that our last names begin with the same letter. Thanks Mr. Whatsyourface for seating us alphabetically!

It’s going to be a grand soirée.  Stay tuned for The Great Beauty Trials of 2010 and what will hopefully be a happy ending for my poor forgotten feet.   Ah, weddings.  :p

P.S. For those who read yesterday’s blog, my date with the medicals is next Thursday.  I’ll keep ya posted.